Evaluating a one-year orthopaedic medical equipment donation pilot program

Area of Science:

• Healthcare waste management
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Medical device sustainability

Background:

• Healthcare systems generate substantial waste, highlighting inefficiencies and environmental impact.
• Orthopaedic surgery extensively utilizes durable medical equipment (DME), such as braces and crutches, crucial for patient recovery and mobility.
• Current practices often lead to significant waste of reusable DME.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and outcomes of implementing a DME reusability program within an outpatient orthopaedic practice.
• To evaluate the volume and types of DME that could be collected and redistributed.

Main Methods:

• A pilot program was conducted over one year at a US academic medical center's outpatient orthopaedic clinic.
• Patients were offered the option to donate used DME during clinic visits.
• Collected DME was inspected, cleaned, and donated to a non-profit organization for local and global distribution.

Main Results:

• The program collected and donated a total of 213 DME items over one year.
• The most frequently donated items included CAM walking boots (75), crutches (37), and post-operative cast shoes (21).

Conclusions:

• A DME donation program is viable within an outpatient orthopaedic setting.
• The pilot program demonstrated significant potential for waste reduction and improved resource allocation.
• Such programs can decrease patient financial burdens and enhance access to essential medical equipment globally.